Flow regulating and liquid distributing filter system



Nov. 28, 1944.

L R. SMITH ET AL FLOW REGULATING AND LIQUID DISTRIBUTING FILTER SYSTEM Fi led June 18,

INVENTOR LEI l )7. $544, 19 H. XQEcKEL ,AMJM

ATTOIZN 5Y5.

Patented Nov. 28, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLOW REGULAZ'fISZ iiTD LIQUID DIS- TRIBUTIN G FILTER SYSTEM Levi R. Smith and Ralph HQ Yoeckel, Waukesha, Wis.

Application June 18, 1941, Serial No. 398,526

. 3 .6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in flow regulating and liquid distributing systems having particular utility in the field of machine and textile lubrication. w

i As a primary object, the invention seeks to provide a novel and improved means for controlling fluid flow by varying the density of a compressible porous or fibrous medium. In this connection, it i i is a further object to provide a flow controlling device which will function with accuracy and will be uninfiuenced by vibration. It is preferredthat the flow controlling medium shall alsofunction as a filter and the preferred embodiments of the invention further include means whereby fluid flow to the filtering medium may be concurrently controlled as an incident to the varia tio n of compression on such medium.

Another important object of the inventionis the provision of a filtering liquid distributing system having a main filter serving all of several branches leading, as a rule, to separate machines,

subordinate filters serving the several branches individually, and regulating filters controlling the flow to individual bearings from the respective branches, the system preferably including Intersecting the chamber is a screw-threaded bore l4 in whichthe pressure screw is loosely threaded. The duct Il may, if desired, open directly into the bore [4, chamber Ill being unnecessary. From the bottom of the screw-threaded bore M, a duct It leads downwardly through the externally threaded boss I! and drip nozzle 18'. The boss I I is threaded tightly into the upper end of the bearing cup I9, the threadedstem 20 of which is screwed into the bearing block 21. From the interior chamber 22 of the bearing cup, duct 23 opens downwardly to the surface of the shaft 6 requiring lubrication. The bearing cup I9 is preferably made of a transparent plastic or other transparent material so that the rate of flow from the drip nozzle' l8 may be checked as desired. l

A gasket 24 held under compression by lock nut 25 seals the contact of the lock nut with the filtercasing 9. Packing at.26 about the screw 15 is compressed between lock nut 25 and a packing nut 21, likewise threaded to the screw I5. i

means for automatically controlling in whole or in part the entire fiow through therespective branches in accordance with the require ments of the bearings lubricated therefrom. Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following disclosure of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a detail view in vertical section through a bearing oiler incorporating a multiple stage filter where atleast one stage is subject to adjustment for flow regulation in accordance with this invention.

.Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing The lubricant is received through a pressure supply line I connected by a coupling nut 8 to a filter casing 9 having chamber II] to which the lubricant supplied to pipe 1 is delivered through duct II.

The threads of screw l5 are relatively loosely engaged in the threads of the filter casing 9 in bore I4 Thus, the thread spaces provide a restricted passage through which lubricant may flow under pressure from the pressure supply pipe 1 and duct H to thatportion of bore M which lies below the end of screw [5. space afforded by the thread spaces acts as a primary control of rate of flow.

Maintained under compression in the bottom of bore l4 and covering the upper end of duct I6 is a body30 of felt orother suitable compressible fibrous or porous filter material. The oil reaching the lower end of bore M can escape through duct 16 only by penetrating the compressible filter body30. The rate of flow through the filter body may be regulated with great accuracy by manipulation of screw 15 upwardly or downwardly to decrease or increase the pressure towhich the filter body 30 is subject. In addi tion to flow regulation, the filter body operates to performits filtering function for the removal of the finest particles of foreign matter from theoil. Since the compressible flow regulating body 30 covers the delivery duct l6, fluid can reach the delivery duct only by laterally entering the body and leaving through the end thereof. When sufjcient foreign matter has accumulated to restrict flow through the body or interfere with proper regulation of such flow, the

body may readily .be removed by simply unscrewing the pressure bolt 15, whereupon the body "is exposed and may either be cleaned or replaced.

The restricted In the construction shown in Figure 2, the shaft 6 and bearing may be identical with those shown ing is required since the lubricant is not under pressure.

Projecting'upwardly from the bottom of the filter casing 90 is a sleeve 95 providing interiorly a bore I40 in which the enlarged head I5I of screw I50 is guided for axial reciprocation. The head I5I has lateral openings at I52 normally exposed above the top of sleeve 95 to receive lubricant and admitted to the interior cavity I53 in which a filter body 300 in the form of a cylinder or rod is housed under compression between screw I50 and the filter casin at the bottom ofbore I 40.

From the bottom of the bore, and normally entirely covered by the cpmpressed filter body 300 is a duct I60 opening downwardly through the drip nozzle I80 into the interior of the oil cup fitting I90 which is threadedinto the bearing member 2| and has threaded connection with the filter casing as in the structure shown in Figure 1. The oil .cup I90 may, as in Figure 1, be made of transparent material to permit free inspection of the rate of flow from the drip nozzle I80.

The same operation of screw I50 which compresses or releases the resilient porous body 300 alsoexposes ports I52 to a greater or lesser deshown in Figure 3 the diagram of a liquid distribution and filtering and controlling system. The invention is exemplified as applied to the lubrication of a series of machines, this being the field in which its has particular utility. i

The supply tank 32 is maintained under pres sure by air communicated to it through pipe 33 from pump 34.. I

The discharge pipe 35 from the bottom of tank 32 passes through a primary filter F beyond which the supply line branches, the-respective branches 36 and 3'! being controlled by valves 33' and 39, respectively. For the purposes of the present disclosure, the organizations beyond the con trol valves 38 and 39 of the respective branches 36 and 31 may be assumed to be identical In each branch, there is a branch filter F through which all of the liquid traversing the branch must pass. In series with this filter to control flow through the branch, is an automatic valve 40 opened by solenoid 4|, the solenoid being electrically connected with the circuit to motor 42 so that the valve 40 will be open whenever the motor 42. is energized. .For permitting flow through the branch whenvalve 40 is closed (as is normally the. case when the motor 42 is ,deenermay be manually controlled.

The motor 42 may be understood to be the prime mover of some machine requiring lubrication. As such, it will operate a shaft or shafts 6h,

02, 63 in bearing blocks 2|. The shaft bearings in the respective blocks are supplied with lubricant from the branchline 36 through the individual filters F F and F and supplied by pipes .I I, I2 and I3, each such individual filter F F F 'preferably corresponding identically with the corresponding disclosure of Figure 1.

Each mechanism diagrammatically illustrated may be understood to comprise one of several mechanisms to be lubricated from the main supply tank 32. Valves 38 and 39 will normally be Open to permit free flow of lubricant through the branch lines 30, 31 and such additional branch lines as may be needed. The branch lines, however, are normally subject to full or partial conr1 61 by the automatic valves 40 which normally open only when the motors which operate the respective mechanisms are energized. However, there are hand valves 43 permitting the bearings to be lubricated when the motors are deenergized or permitting the flow of lubricant to be increased if it is inadequate through the automatic valves In any event, alllubricant leaving the supply tank 32 is first filtered in filter F Thereafter all lubricant passing through a particular branch line is filtered in one of the filters F individual to such branch. Finally, all'lubricant going to each individual bearing is filtered in the filter F, F or F individual to such bearing. At the same time, the regulation feature enables the flow to the individual bearings to be adjusted as required by manipulation of the compression screws I5 with which the compression of the filter bodies in the respective filters F F and F may be varied.

In any such distribution system as that herein disclosed, whether or not it is used for lubrication, it is important not only to control individ- ,70 gized), we provide a bypass valve at 43 which ually and automatically the flow through the several branches of the system, but also to regulate fiow through the several delivery pipes of each branch. By the present invention, such regulation of flow through theindividual delivery pipes is controlled at the same time the delivery is filtered.

While the invention has been disclosed in an embodiment having to do with the lubrication and the distribution of a filtered lubricant to a series of machines, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the distribution, filtration and control of the liquid in accordance with the invention herein disclosed has a wider field of utility than lubrication and the disclosure, is, therefore, to be taken merely as an exemplification of the invention.

On the other hand, the invention has particular utility as a l-ubricator. It also has utility both in the field of lubrication and elsewhere where near accurate control of the rate of flow of the liqby accumulations of foreign matter, the compressible control or filter body is almost instantly replaceable.

The rate of flow through a duct controlled by a compressible body as herein disclosed is almost entirely independent of vibration. In this respect, the flow control differs from practically any other device used for the purpose. This teature makes the device particularly valuable where p it is desired thatflow continue at a constant rate in an organization where the regulating device is subject, part of the time, to vibration and at other times is relatively free of vibration.

In addition to the field of lubricationof machines and machine parts, the invention has par-r ticular utilityin the lubrication of threads and yarn in the textile industry.

We claim: 9

1. In an oiler, the combination with a casing having a screw threaded bore and a duct leading from the end thereof and alubricant supply duct leading laterally thereto, of a screw loosely threaded in said bore between said supply duct,

and having an outlet port and an intervening chamber communicating with said inlet and with said outlet port, of an adjusting screw threaded and the duct first mentioned, the threads of the screw and the casing providing a preliminary control of lubricant flow, and a compressible filter body confined between said screw and the end of said bore in the path of lubricant passing from said bore to said delivery duct. t

2. A flow controlling device comprising the combination with a casing having an inlet, an outlet, and conduit means betweenthe inlet and tending into said chamber and provided with outlet including a chamber having a screw threaded wallportion, and duct meansleading from the end of the chamber, a screw loosely threaded to the threaded wall portion of the chamber, the threads of the screw and the chamber providing a liquid passagethrough said conduit, an elongated felted fibrous body confined between the screw andthe end of the chamber covering said duct means and of sufficiently smaller cross section than the portion of the chamber in which it is locate'dso that it has side surfaces exposed to receive from said chamber liquid which has traversed the screw threaded passage from said inlet, whereby liquid preliminarily restricted and filtered by traversing said screw thread passage enters side surface portions of said body and leaves said body longitudinally at a rate of flow controlled by the compression of the body. t l p t 3. A flow controlling device comprising the combination witha casing having an inlet, an outlet, and conduit means between the inlet and outlet including a chamber of materially greater cross section than the outlet, of an adjusting screw mounted in the casing and extending into said chamber toward said outlet, and a felted fibrous body of larger cross section than the outlet and smaller cross section than said chamber confined between the screw and the end of the by liquid entering said chamber enters side surface portions of said body and leavessaid body through its solid end at a rate of how controlled by the compression of said body.

4. A flow controlling device comprising the for adjustment respecting said casing and having an end portion positioned insaid chamber with its axis substantially aligned with that of said outlet port, together with a generally cylindrical felted fibrous body homogeneously continuous from side to side throughout its cross section and having side wall portions exposed within said chamber and a solid end portion covering said port, said body being compressibly engaged by the end of said screw and being adapted to receive liquid'from said chamber substantially throughout the exposed side surface of said body and to discharge such liquid longitudinally into said port-at a rate of flow controlled by the compression of said body under said screw. I 5. A flow controlling device comprising the combination with a casing having an inlet, an

outlet port and conduit means between the inlet and outlet, port including a chamber, a screw threaded to said casing and adjustable to and from the outlet port, the end of said screw exsocket means therein, and a porous resiliently compressible body of materially less cross section than said chamber and extending longitudinally of the projected axis of the screw from said port to the socketed end of the screw and having a terminal portion engaged in such socketed screw end to be positionedthereby, said body having a peripheral portion exposed within said chamber and being of substantially homogeneous cross sec tion continuously within said exposed peripheral portion, whereby liquid entering said chamber from said inlet is admitted through the exposed peripheral surface of said body and leaves said body longitudinally through said port at a rate of flow controlled by the compression of said body by said screw.

6. A flow controlling device comprising the combination with a casing having an inlet, an outletport and conduit means between the inlet and the outlet port including a chamber, of a screw threaded to said casing and having an end portion in the chamber, said screwbeing adjustable upon its threads to and from said port, and

a resiliently compressible porous b'ody confined between the screw and the end of the chamber,

the end of said body covering said port and the cross section of said body being at all points substantially uniformly continuous from side to side,

, said body having peripheral side portions exposed within said chamber to receive liquid therefrom and having suificient substance to withstand collapse under the pressure of said screw, the cross section of said body being materially less than that of saidchamber and the porosity of said body being variable according to the compression exerted thereon by said screw, whereby liquid admitted to said body through the exposed peripheral portions thereof leaves said body longitudinally through said port at a rate of flow controlled bythe compression of said body,

LEVI SMITH.

RALPH H. YOECKEL.

combination with a casing provided with an-inlet 

